Feels Like Spring

so naturally I went for a ride.  It was around 7:30 am when I got my V-strom ready.  First dig out my air compressor, check my tire pressures and move my bike out to the lane

With the scaffolding removed it was a breeze to roll out on my gravel driveway.   First I was headed South East to Surrey for breakfast with the guys and then South with no particular destination in mind.

I had already ridden nearly 50 kms (30 miles) before I realized that I hadn't been using my iOS Easy Trails iPhone "cookie crumb" app which was discovered by David a year ago .   If you don't know our area, it gives you a reference to where I had been.   The iOS app produces a KMZ file which can be imported by Google Maps and here it is . . .


View White rock mar 9 2013 in a larger map

I would include more maps but I am not the Google Map Guru and it doesn't always work but if this works correctly you should be able to zoom in and out and move the map around.  I had no destination in mind and I was riding at the speed limit just enjoying the sunshine.  I decided to turn right off Crescent Beach Road and ended up at the Marina

There is no one here so I stop in the middle of the boat launch ramp

It is hard to speed if you are wearing a Hi-Viz fluorescent Orange Olympia riding jacket as most riders wear the Hi-Viz Fluorescent Green, so I would be easy to track.   I only use this jacket during the Winter months as you do not need a rain liner.   The rain proof membrane in bonded to the Outer Jacket material instead of being waterlogged with the separate zip in liner underneath

It looks warmer than it feels.   I tried to remove my jacket but it was too chilly

The water is smooth as glass with little wave action.

Soon these docks will be full of activity, but today not much is happening.   With no where to go, I am in no rush.   I'm thinking how lucky we are to be living here.  It's not yet Spring but today we have Spring-like weather.   I am feeling sorry for those in other parts of the country who are snowed in, or barricaded in their Motel rooms in the mid-west

That's my Lumix TS-3  waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof P&S camera which I bought last year, and also brought to the iMBC2012 in Hell's Canyon.   I wanted a camera with "internal" focus.  I have had problems with  two previous cameras with telescoping zoom lenses as dirt got sucked inside and contaminated the sensor, which made them useless.   Also if you are riding with one hand and trying to snap photos with your left hand whist riding you have your camera on a tether.  If something happens and you have to let go of your camera it is most likely that your camera may bounce on your extended lens which will damage the zoom mechanism.  This won't happen with a camera with internal focus

As I am leaving I see the train trestle so I may a quick U-turn for another photo opp .   I decided to leave and head over to Crescent Beach

    Blackie Spit, Crescent Beach, Surrey BC

and manage to keep upright on the gravel parking lot.   That's Boundary Bay in the background

I think the long grass are remnants from last year.   The beach is more gravel than sand and I notice the tide is out, so naturally I had to take a seat on the rock and soak in the sunshine

then it was time to go for a quick walk.  I love to walk in the sand.  I would also have walked down to the mud flats but there was no where to clean up afterwards.

With no specific destination I was not in a rush to leave so I just sat and watched the tide come in

When you don't have a riding buddy you can spend as much or as little time as you want but eventually it was time to move on and head East to White Rock

    East Beach,  White Rock

It is still early and most of the residents don't seem to be awake yet.   I have the roads nearly to myself

White Rock is a beach community with railway tracks which travel between the beach and shopping areas.  You can barely make out the famous White Rock Pier in the background (top left)

Oh, I notice a nice Suzuki V-strom parked on the left . . .

There is no free parking in White Rock, unless you like to walk.

Across the bay is the Semiahmoo Resort which is on the other side of the border in the USA

You can just make out their water tower on the horizon

I decide to head North up Hwy 99A.    Before the freeway was built, this was the only way from Vancouver to the USA border.   I remember passing this place when I was very young.

I have never stopped here before, but today I did to snap a photo for you.   From here I headed farther East and take 168th Northbound

I stop at the top of the hill to show you where I am headed.   It is a fairly steep hill with a stop sign at the bottom

For some reason I go farther East and end up in Langley.  I have nothing to buy but I stop at Princess Auto, which is sort of like Harbor Freight in the USA.   They have a washroom here.   I go up and down the aisles and make mental notes of what I may need for my R1200R, but first I have to make a list of what size Torx bits to buy.   It seems that all the bolts on my Beemer are various sizes of Torx and I may be somewhere this Summer where I may need them.   I pick up a few things and head for the cashier when I hear a voice

Voice:  "excuse me, is that your V-strom parked outside"

Me: "Yes . . ."

Voice:  "I notice you have some nice accessories installed, just what I am looking for"

Me:  "we can go outside and I can show you what I have"

So we head out to the parking lot and I see his Kawasaki Versys parked in front of me

When I park in a lot with lots of pickup trucks I usually stay to the rear of the space.  I park headed IN or OUT depending upon the terrain as I need more lean angle than what my kick stand will allow

It's a nice looking bike.  I actually sat on one before I bought my 'Strom

Meet Tyler.   We chatted about this and that and we plan to get together again to go over RAM mounts and talk about cameras, laptops and external drives whilst on Road Trips.  He plans to leave in 6 weeks, for a 4 month bike trip to Mexico.  

He just purchased this bike for his trip and now need to outfit it for Touring.  He is fabricating his own Panniers and his father is a machinist.

I was not in a rush to go anywhere so we chatted a bit more, then finally parted ways.   I was headed back to town and he had more things to do in the Langley area.   He had just been to Abbotsford to buy a Hennessy Hammock for his extended motorcycle trip.  We exchanged contact numbers and he actually lives in Vancouver too.  We are not that far away from each other.

You know how it is.  You both have bikes, you meet and then you can't stop talking.  Today was one of those days . . .

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

as you probably know our house has been in a construction war zone since last May.  Our sidewalks were ripped out and the ground was prepped and waiting for new cement

It's been like this for a few weeks.   The rebar grid was put into place and they were just waiting for warmer weather and also for the rain to stop.   Before the rebar, it was just sand and dirt which has been tracking inside and making a mess.

Finally last Thursday the cement came and when I got home they were doing the finishing touches

Now we all know that wet cement is "soft" so everyone was taking so much care not to step on it until it had hardened .   I am so happy that soon we won't have to walk on the dirt and gravel to get inside.  The first thing I do when I leave for work on Friday morning was to admire our new sidewalk, and then I saw IT . . .  FOOTPRINTS !!

My shadow is pointing out the mysterious footprint.  It is hard to see from this angle but here is the view looking the other way

There are two footprints and it is depressed a bit into the cement.  I mean how inconsiderate this is.  It wouldn't have been so bad it it had been my own footprints.   I did think about putting some toe prints into it but decided that wasn't such a good idea.  I'm not sure this can be "buffed out" or not.  Perhaps when the cement hardens it can be sanded a bit

One thing for sure.  It wasn't me, it is a larger foot than mine and I don't leave the same type of imprints

France in America

Gary rode his Harley-Davidson on an epic 21,000 miles road trip in 27 states in America. His book ‘France In America’ is about that trip.      you can purchase Gary's book   HERE

    Gary France, the Author of "France in America"             June 2011  (Richmond, BC)

Imagine my surprise of receiving a package wrapped in a plain brown wrapper delivered to my office.    I wasn’t expecting anything this substantial and I didn’t recognize the return address in Washington State.  I often have packages delivered to my work address as it is simplier for me.   I stare at it for a while then I realize what it is and precede to carefully open it up.

It is a work of love.   I quickly scan the directory and resultant chapters.  It is beautifully laid out with stunning photos and matching narrative.    As you begin reading your mind is nearly reciting the words in a familiar, sort of British accent.   Flowing words and sentences that reveal the inner feelings of a stranger to North American, his thoughts and perceptions as he travels across the country .   He must also have a team of elves working for him & doing extensive research.   He also includes facts, figures and history of where he has been so you are not left with just a photo. Thoughts and impressions from a traveler from the UK brings a different dimension to his writings

It’s too bad his wife Jackie didn’t accompany him on the full tour.   I felt a bit sad that he remarked that he had seen many parts of America which Jackie wasn’t able to, even though she was born in America.    He is writing from his heart, bringing you along on his journey talking to you like you were his friend sitting pillion on the back of his beloved “Leading Ladies”,  Harley-Davidson.   As a solo rider I can relate completely to his environment of being on the road for nearly 5 months and longing for someone to share his experiences.

Gary’s book is easy to read.   There are numerous maps at the beginning of each chapter showing you where he went.   You are immediately drawn into his stunning photography.  He calls them “snapshots”, he is humble that way.     I like the way the photos are sized differently on adjacent pages drawing you deeper into his narrative. 

We travelled to Utah a few years ago, so I thumbed over to that chapter as I was more familiar with what we had seen.  I must say that Gary didn’t leave out a thing.  There are photos of the various Arches, the landscape which immediately brought back memories of our past trip to Arches and Canyonlands.  Let me say that he was very thorough with his coverage and he has a keen eye for composition and doesn’t seem to miss a thing.     To order "France in America"   click    HERE

Gary was on a ride of a lifetime, a chance to ride across the USA, to visit our natural wonders, to meet the people along the way.   Sometimes Dreams can come true.  You can read all about it in this book  “France in America”     Perhaps one day you too will make a trip like this, or to specific areas where Gary has been and this book would certainly make a good reference guide.

   France in America,  Author:  Gary France                             click to order

FRANCE in CANADA    -----------------------

I was fortunate to discover Gary a year or so before the Ride of his Dreams and I hope that I have somehow contributed to his planning.    His tour did not include coming anywhere near to British Columbia (nor Washington or Oregon) but I had the privilege of hosting him one weekend during June 2011

Technically it was Gary’s   2^nd time in Canada.  At the beginning of his tour he was so desperate to watch a football match that he had to cross the Canadian Border for 2 hours to see the game.   You can read all about it in his book  “France in America”        Buy HERE

    Gary France, mounting a GoProHD video cam to his HD            Vancouver, BC    June 2011

No,  He didn’t ride his “Leading Ladies”  but he brought his signature helmet.  I had him all to myself and we compressed a lifetime of sightseeing, eating and chatting into 2 short days.

You can read all about it here  Part ONE    and also here   Part TWO

When I look at his book sitting on my coffee table I think of Gary and it brings back memories.  

    Gary France and  Bob                Richmond Night Market, Richmond BC  June 2011

He even brought over a pair of signature Pink Crocs .   I am glad for the opportunity to have met and perhaps one day I can live his dream and ride to some far off land.   In the meantime, you can buy his book and follow him along on his journey across the USA

    Bob and Gary France, Author of "France in America"  US / Cdn border crossing: June 2011

Finally, sunshine

After torrential rains on Saturday,  Sunday the Sun decides to make an appearance.   It's still cool but it's not raining.   See !   It doesn't rain all the time . . .

Sunday is a non-riding day.  We decide to have brunch somewhere then we head over to Lynn Canyon.   I like the moss and the sunlight streaming through the trees

There are a lot of people walking about and the parking lots were overflowing

They construct boardwalks over sensitive areas .    We are on the opposite side of they Canyon.  To get here we had to walk over a Suspension Bridge

It "swings" a lot when people are shuffling over it so it is secured with tethers.   There have been many deaths from people not observing the danger signs and fall over the cliff

There are three waterfalls in this park which is crisscrossed with trails .  On a good day you have to be patient to grab a shot with few people

We have two suspension bridges in North Vancouver but this is the one where the locals come,  as the other has an admission charge.   This Canyon is also more rugged and picturesque.

Here's Mrs Skoot heading back to the other side.   Better go now or else she'll leave me behind . . .
Hope you managed to enjoy the outdoors too

Ducati meets 'Vette in Oregon

Last September 2013 we headed down to the Oregon coast

   Yachats, Oregon               September, 2012

I was recently here just a couple of months earlier during July when I was returning from our iMBC2012 Blogger's reunion.   Actually I have ridden my bike to Oregon for the past 3 years but Mrs Skoot does not ride so to quelch my guilt feeling I decided that we should hop into our car and come down together

   Heceta Head Lighthouse

I try to limit my solo Motorcycle trips to one+ week per year as it wouldn't be fair for me to be enjoying myself while she works and remains at home.   Also I ride my motorcycle more than I drive my hobby car so it was about time that I gave the engine some exercise

We lucked out on the weather this time as it was foggy and cold the last time we drove down and stayed in Lincoln City.    The sun was out but it was a bit cooler than we would have liked .

Today we were on a mission and a lunch date with Cesar, who also blogs and rides a stunningly beautiful  Yellow Ducati Streetfighter 848 .   He has a few other bikes but this was his favourite one, the one he rode the most during 2012.   The one he was going to keep for two years.   He just let it go to its new owner so he doesn't have it anymore.  You can read about it  (here) .    He also posted about our meeting  (here)

I arrived a few minutes early then I heard IT.   The beautiful sound of a Ducati roaring into the parking lot.  This is my first glimpse of Cesar . . .  he had arrived !

He often rides to the coast and more recently he had been blogging about the great meals at the Ona Restaurant in Yachats, so naturally this is where we met.  Here he is parking in his preferred spot.   It is easily visible from our table

We had a great meal and chatted about this and that.   It's amazing how you can interact with each other like you had been friends for a long time, even though this was our first meeting.   After our meal he moved his bike to the front of the restaurant for some photos

His Ducati is so photogenic.   It looks fast just sitting there

If you go to his blog and look around you will find that he as a great eye for photos, and places his Ducati in the most perfect locations.   He is meticulous that way

Soon it is time for us to part ways and he gears up . . .

and mounts his bike and heads south, taking the long way back home to Eugene.   We head over to the park to enjoy the day and watch the kites

We are not in a rush to go anywhere so we grab a bench and just relax, enjoying our view of the ocean and soaking in the heat of the sun

We had a great weekend on the Oregon Coast and the weather was perfect !